Strike forces SDO to extend relocation deadline for transporters

A strike organised by transport agencies in Douala has forced Wouri SDO, Naseri Paul Bea, to extend by one month the deadline for all concerned transport agencies to relocate to the Sodiko Motor Park at Bonaberi.

The agencies that transport passengers from the centre of Douala City to the Northwest, Southwest, West Regions and Mungo Division in the Littoral Region had been ordered to move their offices to Bonaberi.

The SDO extended the deadline during a crisis meeting with leaders of inter-urban transporters’ trade unions on March 3, 2016.

This followed a strike action that was organised on that day in Douala by transport agencies that operate between Douala and the West Region to protest against the SDO’s decision.

The decision to get transport agencies to relocate from Douala central town to Bonaberi falls under the Government programme of curbing public disorder in Douala.

The programme is led by the Wouri SDO assisted by the Government Delegate to the Douala City Council, Dr. Fritz Ntone Ntone, and supported by the Douala City Council and all the five municipal Councils in Douala.

Although the affected agencies that transport passengers from Douala to the Northwest are mentioned in the official statements, they have for several years been operating at Bonaberi.

The Vatican, Guarantee, Amour Mezam, Moghamo, Mondial, Jeannot, Patience, Symbol of Unity, among others, are not known to cross over to central Douala except when hired.

The majority of transport agencies that load in Douala central are those that transport passengers to the West Region. They operate in quarters like Bepanda in Douala, Brazzaville, Madagascar and ‘Village’, all with high Bamileke population and Bessengue in Douala I with a huge population of Bamoun.

Some transport agencies that ply the Douala-Nkongsamba route are also found in Deido Quarter.

As regards the Southwest Region, those concerned are mostly the ‘Clando’ (illegal) vehicles that transport passengers from Rond Point Deido to Tiko, Mutengene, Limbe and Buea.

Meanwhile, the transport agencies complain of insecurity at the Sodiko Motor Park, and that it lacks facilities like public toilets, lighting and potable water,amongst others.The agencies are urging the local administrative and municipal authorities to create motor parks in each of the five municipalities in Douala.

On their part, people from the West Region living in the different municipalities in Douala are resisting the administrative order that they have to cross over to Bonaberi to board buses to the West.

Also, the transport agencies complain that most passengers travelling to Douala insist on boarding only the buses that will take them across to central town. Thus, the few transport agencies that initially relocated to Sodiko Motor Park realised that they were losing many passengers, and had to return to central town.